Tube assembling method



Dec. 23, 1941. .A LPARKER 2,266,795

TUBE AssEMBLING'METHoD original Filed April 29, i958 QWNQNQ 'l W www 5 l WMU IQIP'- /rrogvsys issued January 3, 1933 forms an example, it is intended to snugly surround the tubes and proto wall contact and then flaring the end por- Patented Dec. 23, 1941 l UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFlcEf- TUBE AssEMmNG METHOD Arthur L. Parker, Cleveland, Ohio Y n 'original application April 29, 19st,` serial No.

Divided and this application Novemi' ber 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,371

2 claims. (ci.

AIn the formation of certain forms of tube couplings, of which my priorPatent 1,893,442,

customary to`provide the tubes with flared ends and to clamp said `ends between opposing coniform male and female clamping surfaces, the latter of which are formed in sleeves which are tect them from damaging vibrations and which include shoulders engaged by nuts adjustable I along the axis 4of the tubes and sleeves to seat the sleeves in clamping engagement with the ared tube and the opposing male clamping surfaces. When any appreciable clearance is permitted between the sleeves and the tube portions which they surround, vibration of the coupled tubes is permitted and breakage often results. In my present invention I seek to remedy these evils by providing a novel method of preparing tube ends for the formation of tube couplings consisting in rst bringing a 4tube end and its surrounding protective sleeve into permanent, intimate wall tion of the tube against an opposed clamping surface of said sleeve.

Therefore, it is' an object o f the-invention to provide a novel method of forming a tube element assembly comprising a tube to be coupled, and a protective sleevesurroun'ding the tube and including a iiared portion opposed to the tube end, said method comprising the steps of bringing the opposed walls of the tube and sleeve into permanent intimate contact and in daring the tube end into the flare of the sleeve. y

With these and other objects in view which will more fully-appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several viewsillustrated in the accompany- -ing drawing.

This case is a division of my co-pending apz plica'tion Serial No. 205,102, filed-April 29, 1938.

` In the drawing: y

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional View of a tube end and sleeve assembly with an expanding device shown freely inserted inthe tube end preparatoryl to expanding said tube.

Figure 2 is a view similar-to Figure 1 with the 55 tube expanded intothe sleeve but with a portion only of the expanding device being shown in action. 4

y Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and illustrates the v'completion of the vstep of flarin the expanded andclamped tube. y Figure 4 -is a view similar to Figure 3 and i1- lustrates the ilaringfhead released for movement independent of the adjusting nut. I

In Figures 1 through 4 in the drawing, I 'have illustrated steps in the form tion of a tube assembly embodying the inven ion. 'The tube of this assembly is designated I1. In practicing this method a sleeve I8 is slipped over the end of the tube I1, the tube is then expanded to engage the sleeve in permanent, intimate wall to wall con tact so as to eliminate all space which would permit the tube to vibrate independently of the protective sleeve, andthe lend ofthe tube is then ared by use oi suitable apparatus an example of which is disclosed herein and forms .-the subject matter of the co-pending application hereinbefore referred to. The sleeve I8 used in this method is provided with the usual flare I9 and clamping shoulder 20.

The manner of using the apparatus in the 'practicing of the above mentioned method ot forming tube assemblies is illustrated in the somewhat diagrammatic Figures l, 2, 3 and 4. In Figure 1 a tube I1 is properly mounted in its cooperating protective sleeve I8 and the expanding chuck 2I is inserted into the end of the tube.

In Figure 2 the expanded condition of the tube is illustrated. In other words, the chuck has beenexpanded to enlarge the wall portion of the tube and force it into permanent, intimate wall to wall contact with the surrounding sleeve I8. This is accomplished by turning the handle member 22 about the axis of the rod 23, causing the rod to move longitudinally in the sleeve 24 and force the elements 25 andv 26 toward each other to thereby expand the chuck sleeve 2| and accomplish the tube expansion just described. By turn- -ing the handle memberll about its axis so as to flaring portion 30 thereof downwardly into the end of the tube I'I to flare the same. The completion of the flaring function is shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The downward movement of the flaring head 29, 3I1canbe eiected by completely rotating the handle member 21 about the @1X1-i 0f the rod `23 While holding the handle members 22 and 3| stationary, orthe handle member 21 can be moved in a partial rotation, then unscrewed slightly to relieve the clamped condition of the nut and rotated partially in the reverse direction, and then re-clamped and rotated again in the rst stated direction in successive cycles so as to set the naring portion step by step if desired. Y

After the expansion and ilaring of the tube has been completed as shown in Figure 3 of the drawnovel tube assembly and method of forming the same in which the tube to be coupled is brought or expanded into permanent intimate wall to wall contact with its surrounding protective sleeve and then nared to prepare it for ultimate coupling.

It is, of course. entirely feasible to bring the sleeve and tube into intimate wall to wall contact by contracting the sleeve around the tube by radially applied pressure, rather than by expending the tube into the sleeve.

I claim'` :Lamette` 1. 'I'he herein described method of preparing tubes for coupling purposes which comprises, iltting over the end of the tube to be coupled a protective sleeve having a ared end, expanding the tube into permanent intimate wall to wall contact with the sleeve by pressure applied by a single agency and in the radial outward direction only, said single pressure application being eftective for the two-fold purpose of eifecting permanent union of said tube' and sleeve and holding them against longitudinal movement, and while maintaining said pressure application liaring the end of the tube against the nare of the sleeve.

2. The herein described method of preparing tubes for coupling purposes which comprises, iitting over the end of the tube to be coupled a protective sleeve having a flared end and of a diameter for closely but loosely surrounding said tube, expanding the tube throughout a portion of the length of the sleeveand adjacent the ared end of the sleeve into permanent -intinutte wall to wall contact with the sleeve by pressure applied by a single agency and in lthe radial outward direction only, saidA single pressure application being effective for the two-fold purpose of eii'ectf v ing permanent union of said tube and sleeve and holding them against longitudinal movement, and while maintaining said pressure application ilar- 'ing the end of the tube against the nare of the sleeve.

ARTHUR L. PARKER. 

